Alcohol & Drugs, Coping Skills, Mental Health Topics The importance of treatment for substance use disorder and contributing adverse life events by Katie Brenneman on Apr 21, 2022 According to a 2022 report from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, nearly 10 million people over the age of 18 in the United States have substance use disorder (SUD). That’s almost 4% of the entire population. Yet, despite the prevalence of addiction, a profound stigma surrounding addiction persists,…
Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Self-Improvement Generational differences: Stepping outside of our personal experiences and tolerating opposing views by Jason Crosby on Apr 20, 2022 In the 1960s, “don’t trust anyone over the age of 30” was a common phrase among young people as they clashed with their elders. Social upheavals, gender role-bending, and even global violence were visceral themes that influenced politics, educational systems, fashion, music, film, and more. Every step toward the new…
Ask a Therapist, Mental Health Topics, Relationships There is no trust in my relationship — can we still make it work? by Emily Simonian, M.A., LMFT on Apr 19, 2022 Q: I went through my boyfriend’s phone. All the girls he talked to while we were together are saved in his phone and social media, so while he was sleeping I deleted and blocked those girls. He got mad at me because he’s saying that I am trying to entrap…
Ask a Therapist, Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement What is more important: following your heart or making others happy? by Emily Simonian, M.A., LMFT on Apr 18, 2022 Q: What is more important? Following your heart, mind, body, and soul, even if it means hurting others’ feelings and emotions, or continuing to live in denial to make your dying spouse, special needs child, and others happy? A: Thank you for reaching out. I really feel for you and…
Anxiety, Mental Health Topics Does life flash before our eyes when we die? Near-death experiences, strange brain activity, and death-related anxiety by Jason Crosby on Apr 15, 2022 Urban myths and popular fiction have nourished the idea that our final moments offer us a rapid-fire series of flashbacks, featuring each moment we’ve ever lived through. Whether life actually flashes before our eyes has never been confirmed, but many people who have survived near-death experiences have reported the phenomenon….
Mental Health Topics, Self-Care The tonic of green space: Thriveworks resources on nature and mental health by Wistar Murray on Apr 15, 2022 If you ever doubted the mental health benefits of being close to nature, you need look no further than recent research on green spaces and the Covid-19 pandemic. Population studies show that people who lived near green spaces during the pandemic fared better mentally than people with limited access to…
Disorders, Mental Health Topics Understanding dysgraphia: Handwriting issues in the digital age by Wistar Murray on Apr 15, 2022 You may wonder why handwriting still matters in an era when we’re all typing on smartphones and computer keyboards. Americans aren’t especially known for their great penmanship. In fact, in 1955 the Saturday Evening Post called the US a “nation of scrawlers.” But we do still write: at school, on…
Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Work & Careers Making friends at work: 6 simple dos and don’ts to help you maintain professional bonds and boundaries by Jason Crosby on Apr 15, 2022 I’m guessing you have at least two people at your current workplace with whom you’re close. Okay, maybe not close enough to ask them to cat-sit this weekend but close enough that you feel comfortable sharing some details of your life outside of work. They might know your favorite sports…
Health & Exercise, Mental Health Topics Does your digestive system need a therapist? Exploring gut health and mental health by Wistar Murray on Apr 13, 2022 Most people like to think of their brains and their bowels as completely separate units. Gray matter is where the higher thinking happens, where one contemplates art and one’s place in the universe. The gut is where our breakfast cereal goes. It’s a region of the body we only tend…
Coping Skills, Loneliness, Mental Health Topics How loneliness affects the mind and body—plus 5 coping strategies by Jason Crosby on Apr 8, 2022 Spending time alone can be a blissful way to recharge our batteries when we feel our social energy levels starting to dip low. We all need some alone time every now and then—but when being alone becomes our daily default mode, the benefits of solitude disappear. And then loneliness sets…
Communication, Mental Health Topics, Religion & Spirituality Energy reading for beginners: What’s really happening when the vibes are off by Wistar Murray on Apr 8, 2022 Have you ever walked into a crowded room and sensed negative energy? Do you feel uncomfortable being around someone in a bad mood? Do you avoid certain people because they emit weird vibes? Do you ever cancel plans with friends because “the vibes are off”? What exactly are you picking…
Ask a Therapist, Feelings & Emotions, Mental Health Topics I am feeling super overwhelmed and alone: What are some things that I can do to calm down? by Emily Simonian, M.A., LMFT on Apr 7, 2022 Q: I am feeling super overwhelmed and alone. What are some things that I can do to calm down? A: We’re so sorry to hear that you’re feeling overwhelmed and alone. Those feelings are really difficult and we understand that it can be hard to find ways to calm and…